A brief focus on
Georgia’s agricultural industry
Total Farm Gate Value
$200,000,000 - $385,000,000
$80,000,000 - $200,000,000
$45,000,000 - $80,000,000
$20,000,000 - $45,000,000
$2,000,000 - $20,000,000
Poultry & Eggs
42.4%
Fruits & Nuts
3.0%
Row & Forage Crops
14.5%
Livestock
& Aquaculture
12.2%
Other
Income
6.2%
Vegetables
8.0%
Ornamental
Horticulture
7.4%
Forestry &
Products
6.4%
2006 Georgia Agricultural
Commodity Rankings
2006 Total Farm Gate Value = $10.4 billion
2005 = $10.6 billion
Rank
Commodity
Farm Gate
Value
% of
GA Total
1
Broilers
$3,789,684,448
36.56%
2
Cotton
$745,462,412
7.19%
3
Timber
$585,115,924
5.64%
4
Beef
$455,713,606
4.40%
5
Eggs
$447,985,861
4.32%
6
Horses
$416,478,500
4.02%
7
Peanuts
$321,334,435
3.10%
8
Greenhouse
$274,930,734
2.65%
9
Dairy
$233,579,378
2.25%
10
Container Nursery
$210,439,841
2.03%
11
Turfgrass
$167,822,378
1.62%
12
Breeder Pullet Unit
$145,727,998
1.41%
13
Pecans
$143,243,088
1.38%
14
Onions
$132,028,781
1.27%
15
Hay
$130,081,015
1.25%
16
Watermelon
$111,059,586
1.07%
17
Deer Hunting Leases
$108,199,376
1.04%
18
Field Nursery
$104,788,745
1.01%
19
Corn
$102,543,111
0.99%
20
Pork
$90,433,454
0.87%
Economic Impact
Food and Fiber Production
and Directly Related Manufacturing Impact as
a Percentage of Total Economic Output
60 - 84%
40 - 60%
25 - 40%
10 - 25%
0 - 10%
Top Ten Georgia Commodities by Value
Container
Nursery
2.0%
Rest of Commodities
36.6%
Broilers
36.6%
Dairy
2.3%
Greenhouse
2.7%
Peanuts
3.1%
Horses
4.0%
Eggs
4.3%
Beef
4.4%
Timber
4.3%
Cotton
7.2%
Food and fiber production and processing
are key components of Georgia’s economy.
Agriculture shaped Georgia’s history and
will continue to be a driving force in most
local economies across the state.
The food and fiber industry directly and
indirectly generated a total economic impact
of $55.2 billion for the state and created more
than 366 thousand jobs in 2006. In
two-thirds of Georgia’s counties, food
and fiber production and directly related
businesses are the largest single segment of all
goods and services provided.
$30 ,000,000- $55,000,000
$15,000,000 - $30,000,000
$5,000,000 - $15,000,000
$1,000,000 - $5,000,000
$0 - $1,000,000
Row & Forage Crops
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $1.5 billion
2005 = $1.6 billion
Other
0.68%
Cotton
49.62%
Barley
0.01%
Wheat
2.31%
Tobacco
3.68%
Peanuts
21.39%
Corn
6.83%
Oats
0.42%
Straw
1.64%
Soybeans
1.75%
Hay
8.66%
Sorghum
0.29%
Rye
0.69%
Silage
2.04%
Row and forage crops have traditionally been
the backbone of South Georgia agriculture.
With 4.7 million acres of cropland,
Georgia produced almost half of the
nation’s peanuts and harvested the
second highest cotton acreage in 2006.
With long growing seasons and abundant
irrigation resources, row & forage crops
were responsible for a $6.2 billion impact
on the state’s economy and generated 37
thousand jobs in 2006.
$15,000,000- $141,237,000
$3,000,000 - $15,000,000
$200,000 - $3,000,000
$10,000 - $200,000
$0 - $10,000
Vegetables
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $828 million
2005 = $896 million
Southern Peas
1.3%
Snap Beans
5.9%
Squash
3.3%
Sweet Corn
12.5%
Tomato
6.8%
Other Vegetables
9.3%
Other Peppers
1.39%
Onions
15.9%
Okra
0.2%
Watermelon
13.4%
Zucchini
2.3%
Bell Peppers
9.3%
Greens
7.9%
Eggplant
1.2%
Cantaloupe
7.3%
Cabbage
3.8%
Cucumbers
5.3%
The vegetable industry in Georgia is one of
agriculture’s most diverse and fastest growing
sectors. Seventeen individual
vegetables each generated ten million
or more farm gate value in 2006. With
a favorable climate often allowing
both spring and fall plantings, Georgia
ranks among the top four states for
fresh market vegetable area harvested,
production, and value. Vegetable industry
production and processing generated a
total economic impact of $1.85 billion and
created more than 14 thousand jobs in 2006.
$5,000,000- $34,000,000
$1,500,000 - $5,000,000
$300,000 - $1,500,000
$50,000 - $300,000
$0 - $50,000
Fruits & Nuts
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $306 million
2005 = $268 million
Others
0.7%
Apples
1.3%
Pecans
46.8%
Blueberries
24.8%
Peaches
19.8%
Blackberries
1.9%
Grapes
3.1%
Strawberries
1.6%
Fruits and tree nuts are important
staples in the diet, and many types are
grown in Georgia due to its favorable
climate. Peaches have long been a
trademark and are the state’s official fruit.
Additionally, Georgia consistently ranks
among the top U. S. states for pecan
production. The fruit and nut industry
generated a total economic impact of $865.6
million for the state in 2006 and created more
than seven thousand jobs.
$10,000,000- $66,150,000
$6,000,000 - $10,000,000
$3,000,000 - $6,000,000
$1,000,000 - $3,000,000
$0 - $1,000,000
Ornamental Horticulture
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $765 million
2005 = $699 million
Container Nusery
27.5%
Field Nursery
13.7%
Greenhouse
35.9%
Turfgrass
21.9%
Other
1.0%
Ornamental horticulture is providing a
wide range of opportunities scattered
across the state. Growing cities in both
Georgia and Florida are creating a high
demand for ornamentals and other
plants in addition to landscape services.
Greenhouses and container nurseries
both ranked in the top ten agricultural
commodities in Georgia in 2006. Green
industry production and processing
generated a total economic impact of $6
billion and created over 73 thousand jobs.
$10,000,000- $32,241,000
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000
$3,000,000 - $5,000,000
$1,000,000 - $3,000,000
$0 - $1,000,000
Forestry & Products
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $663 million
2005 = $644 million
Timber
88.3%
Pine Straw
9.4%
Christmas Trees
1.4%
Other
0.9%
Forests affect nearly every aspect of
our lives by providing the raw
materials for home building, paper,
packaging and many other uses.
Forests shape our landscape, help
stabilize our farms, and enhance our
cities. Timber production ranked third
highest in farm gate value in 2006.
Forest industry production and
processing generated a total economic
impact of $15.8 billion and created 70
thousand jobs for Georgians.
$15,000,000- $36,241,000
$10,000,000 - $15,000,000
$5,000,000 - $10,000,000
$3,000,000 - $5,000,000
$0 - $3,000,000
Livestock &Aquaculture
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $1.3 billion
2005 = $1.3 billion
Beef Cattle Fin Out Co
1.7%
Pork - Finish Only
1.9%
Beef Stockers
6.2%
Quail
1.8%
Dairy
18.4%
Beef Cattle
28.1%
Pork
Feeder Pigs
1.9%
Pork
Farrow-finish
2.5%
Catfish
0.5%
Horses
board, train, breed
23.2%
Horses
raised
9.7%
Other
2.1%
Sheep
0.05%
Goats
1.1%
Livestock has long been an important
component of Georgia’s agricultural
economy, with beef and dairy among the
top ten commodities. Raising and breeding
horses has become a significant industry
and increasing interest in goats, quail, and
catfish production keeps this industry
dynamic. Livestock and aquaculture
production and processing generated a total
economic impact of $3.3 billion for Georgia
and produced over 45 thousand jobs covering
every county of the state.
$100,000,000 - $280,633,000
$40,000,000 - $100,000,000
$10,000,000 - $40,000,000
$1,000,000 - $10,000,000
$0 - $1,000,000
Poultry & Egg
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $4.4 billion
2005 = $4.5 billion
Broiler-Integrator
75.2%
LayersHatching Egg
7.7%
LayersTable Egg
2.5%
Other
.2%
Breeder
Pullet Unit
3.3%
Broiler- Grower
11.0%
As Georgia’s most valuable agricultural
sector, the poultry-egg industry has
dramatically increased in size over several
decades, with more than two-thirds of the
state’s 159 counties now involved in
production. Georgia has led the nation in
broiler production for 22 consecutive
years. Poultry-egg production and
processing contributed $18 billion total
economic impact for the state in 2006, and
the industry created over 100 thousand jobs.
$12,000,000- $24,376,000
$8,000,000 - $12,000,000
$2,000,000 - $8,000,000
$500,000 - $2,000,000
$0 - $500,000
Agritourism &
Other Income
2006 Georgia Farm Gate Value = $641 million
2005 = $663 million
Government Payments
53.7%
Crop Insurance
15.5%
Deer Leases
16.9%
Agriculture-based
tourism
7.9%
Turkey Leases
0.9%
Duck Leases
0.3%
Nature-based
tourism
7.9%
Other
0.4%
Both Ag-based and Nature-based
tourism play a major role in making
Georgia a destination for increasing
numbers of tourists. More than two
million residents and nonresidents
enjoy abundant fishing, hunting and
wildlife watching opportunities.
Government payments, other than those
directly related to crop production, are
important for environmental and
conservation programs across the state.
Number
of Farms
2002 U.S. Census of Agriculture data
801 - 975
601 - 800
401 - 600
201 - 400
16 - 200
Farmland provides both environmental and
economic returns to all citizens of the state.
The average county in Georgia has 81% of land
in farms and forestland. Even metropolitan
counties have an average of 74% of their land
area in “green space” consisting of farms and
forests.
2005 NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) estimates:
Number of Farms - 49,000
Land in Farms - 10.5 million acres
Average Farm Size - 214 acres
2002 Census of Agriculture data:
Farms by sales class:
Below $2,500 - 48.6%
$2,500 - $99,999 - 38.6%
$100,000+ - 12.7%
Farms by size:
Less than 10 acres - 7.2%
10 to 49 acres - 32.0%
50 to 179 acres - 34.8%
180 to 499 acres - 16.1%
500 to 999 - 5.5%
1000+ acres - 4.3%
Farmers, Principal operator
Worked 200+ days off farm - 39.8%
Average age of principal operator - 56.5
Female - 13.1%
Black - 4.2%
Average value of land and buildings per acre:
$2,112
Average value of machinery & equipment per farm:
$51,847
Land in Crop Reserve/Wetlands Reserve Program as of 4/07
312,369 acres
Irrigated acres as of 2004:
1,546,756
To learn more about Georgia agribusiness, contact:
The Center for Agribusiness and
Economic Development
706-542-0760
or log on to our Web site at:
http://www.caed.uga.edu
J. Scott Angle
Dean and director
The University of Georgia is committed to principles of
equal opportunity and affirmative action.
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